NYPD Announces Citywide Crime Statistics for February 2020

March 5, 2020

For the month of February 2020, major index crime in New York City saw an overall +22.5% increase when compared to the same period in 2019. There was a -20.0% decrease in the number of murders this month (20 v. 25). The City saw a +7.1% increase in shooting incidents (45 v. 42). Robbery, assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto all saw increases.

Criminal justice reforms serve as a significant reason New York City has seen this uptick in crime. To combat the increased victimization of New Yorkers, the NYPD is leveraging multiple strategies, including:

• Redeployment: The NYPD has identified 15 areas where there is an uptick in street crime and is redeploying resources in real time, including moving more vehicle and foot patrols.
• Staffing surge: The Department is increasing police presence by reassigning police officers from administrative roles to enforcement positions. This effort will include the use of overtime as needed.
• Focus on youth: There continues to be an uptick in youths committing robberies against other kids. Part of our new youth strategy includes a Youth Forum. For the third time, NYPD officials will meet this week with outside partners from the District Attorney's offices, the Department of Probation, the Department of Education and Corporation Counsel regarding effective enforcement and prevention strategies to address rising youth crime.

"Every single day, in real time, we are monitoring individual crimes, evaluating crime trends and redeploying accordingly," said NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. "Each number represents a victim. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with New Yorkers and our law enforcement partners to zero in on the drivers of crime and deliver justice for the victims. The men and women of the NYPD are relentless in their efforts to overcome challenges and provide New Yorkers with the level of safety they deserve."

"While crime is at a record low in New York City, there is more work to do to ensure that every New Yorker feels safe in their neighborhood. We will continue to use precision policing to target enforcement and deepen our work with communities to fight crime," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Impact of criminal justice reforms on crime year to date: In the first 58 days of 2020, 482 individuals who had already been arrested for committing a serious (felony) crime such as robbery or burglary were rearrested for committing an additional 846 crimes. Thirty-five percent, or 299, were for arrests in the seven major crime categories – murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny auto – that is nearly triple the amount of those crimes committed in the same 58 days in 2019. All of people were arrested for offenses that prior to Jan 1 and bail reform, could have landed them in jail.

These are arrests – and they do not reflect completely the number of crimes committed by these alleged felons. On top of this – if you add in the "DPs" or decisions to decline to prosecute for these crimes, there are 803 crimes (11.3% of all felony arrests that are no longer eligible for bail) that were not prosecuted, compared to 527 in the same period last year (6.7% of all felony arrests that are no longer eligible for bail).

Key highlights from this month's crime statistics:

• Murder is down (20 v. 25) -20.0% in February 2020 when compared to February 2019.
• Year-to-date, burglary, assault, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto have all seen increases.
• There were 42 shooting incidents in February 2019, compared to 45 shooting incidents in February 2020, resulting in a +7.1% increase.
• For the month of February, rape decreased by -6.0% (125 v. 133). Rape continues to be underreported. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, please come forward. The NYPD Special Victims Division's 24-hour hotline is 212-267-RAPE (7273).
• Citywide hate crimes are down -2.0% this year as of March 1, 2020.

Statistics on Index Crimes

Additional Statistics on Transit/Housing Crime and Shootings, 2019-2020

February Rape Breakdowns

Hate Crimes Statistics Summary from January 1, 2020 – March 1, 2020

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

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